You are now literally making up new arguments and taking the discussion into internal affairs, although you started with external afairs like Bashar al Assad, Ukraine, Georgia. But if you want, US also can compete in that, with Guantanamo prison.

Architectural uniformity. Apart from some iconic buildings and regional differences, most cities just look the exact same. The parts that are vastly different (often historic centres) are usually small and concentrated in one place (e.g. Boston, New Orleans) compared to European cities. So you really need a reason to go visit Atlanta, Memphis or Nashville other than architectural interest. Luckily there are plenty of other reasons to visit the US.

Wine from Chile, Argentina and South Africa is pretty common, Californian wine as well, not sure about wine from Australia and New Zealand. They're definitely less popular than European wines, but I wouldn't say they're "less prestigious", perhaps among the smug and pretentious.

It's fine, just a bit invasive if you're not used to it. They take your finger prints, picture and you need to fill in a form with all kinds of (ridiculous) questions, such as if you were involved in the Holocaust.

When I went to the American consulate to regularize my passports, I was capable of expecting the American consulate to be American. Embassies and consulates are by tradition like islands of the soil for which they stand; and I have often found the tradition corresponding to a truth. I have seen the unmistakable French official living on omelettes and a little wine and serving his sacred abstractions under the last palm-trees frying in a desert. In the heat and noise of quarreling Turks and Egyptians, I have come suddenly, as with the cool shock of his own shower-bath, on the listless amiability of the English gentleman. The officials I interviewed were very American, especially in being very polite; for whatever may have been the mood or meaning of Martin Chuzzlewit, I have always found Americans by far the politest people in the world. They put in my hands a form to be filled up, to all appearances like other forms I had filled up in other passport offices. But in reality it was very different from any form I had ever filled up in my life. At least it was a little like a freer form of the game called "Confessions" which my friends and I invented in our youth; an examination paper containing questions like, "If you saw a rhinoceros in the front garden, what would you do?" One of my friends, I remember, wrote, "Take the pledge." But that is another story, and might bring Mr. Pussyfoot Johnson on the scene before his time.

One of the questions on the paper was, "Are you an anarchist?" To which a detached philosopher would naturally feel inclined to answer, "What the devil has that to do with you? Are you an atheist" along with some playful efforts to cross-examine the official about what constitutes atheist. Then there was the question, "Are you in favor of subverting the government of the United States by force?" Against this I should write, "I prefer to answer that question at the end of my tour and not the beginning." The inquisitor, in his more than morbid curiosity, had then written down, "Are you a polygamist?" The answer to this is, "No such luck" or "Not such a fool," according to our experience of the other sex. But perhaps a better answer would be that given to W. T. Stead when he circulated the rhetorical question, "Shall I slay my brother Boer"--the answer that ran, "Never interfere in family matters." But among many things that amused me almost to the point of treating the form thus disrespectfully, the most amusing was the thought of the ruthless outlaw who should feel compelled to treat it respectfully. I like to think of the foreign desperado, seeking to slip into America with official papers under official protection, and sitting down to write with a beautiful gravity, "I am an anarchist. I hate you all and wish to destroy you." Or, "I intend to subvert by force the government of the United States as soon as possible, sticking the long sheath-knife in my left trouser-pocket into your President at the earliest opportunity." Or again, "Yes, I am a polygamist all right, and my forty-seven wives are accompanying me on the voyage disguised as secretaries." There seems to be a certain simplicity of mind about these answers; and it is reassuring to know that anarchists and polygamists are so pure and good that the police have only to ask them questions and they are certain to tell no lies.

I think it would be fair to make the claim that the U.S. is probably more culturally diverse than most individual European nations, and I would add the caveat that the U.S. has been on a path of becoming more monocultural over the past several decades.

I think it would be fair to make the claim that the U.S. is probably more culturally diverse than most individual European nations

Depends on how you define cultural diversity. If by more culturally diverse you mean there are more (immigrant) cultures, ethnicities and races you are right. At the same time, Europe has more diverse/distinct cultural regions. In the Netherlands for example, we have some of the most liberal, progressive cities on earth (e.g. Amsterdam), a very strict protestant Bible Belt ('no women in politics!') as well as a catholic south and a communist/socialist northeast. All of that within an area the size of New Jersey. So whereas in the US there are more different cultures, they are more or less mixed together geographically, i.e. you'll find a catholic church, a synagogue, a mosque, a buddhist temple all within the same city. Europe is more diverse geographically speaking, i.e. it has more regions with a distinct identity based on religion, architecture, ideology, language, etc. The US has many different cultural regions too, of course, and Europe has many multicultural cities as well, but broadly speaking, that's the biggest difference I think.

Schlager is definitely considered low class. Doesn't mean other social classes don't listen to it from time to time, just like someone can suddenly enjoy opera if it's featured on Britain's Got Talent or a similar show.

This won't sound good for you, but everyone in that demonstration knew the soldiers were not going to shoot anyone. It was Palestinian and israeli demonstration with lots of cameras. The father is a moron but everyone knew it was going to end as it ended.

It was of "you are only good at killing children" and not "i want my child dead".

As far as I can find there has only ever been one shooting in a Dutch high school by a student, in 2004. It wasn't a mass shooting or indiscriminate, however. A 16-year-old student murdered his principal with a stolen police gun, as revenge for being punished by the school.

Because it's American (or rather Republican, special) interests over common interests. Withdrawing from the Paris agreement because it doesn't benefit the US financially, it's better to revive coal. Cutting back on foreign aid (on which they already spend very little compared to other developed nations), because it's not in line with regressive evangelical believes. Trying to disturb the world economy by starting a trade war based on bad economics, putting Iran on a path to war because a deal was signed by Obama which made it a bad deal, having no regards for the stability of the Middle East.